KUALA LUMPUR: A common emphasis on unity, clear command and cross-agency coordination defines the approach of three newly appointed commanders at Malaysia’s key entry points, as the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) continues to consolidate border operations under a single structure.
The appointments involve senior officers from the administrative, police and customs services, reflecting the integrated model adopted by the agency.
Port Klang MCBA commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal, who reported for duty on Jan 12, described unity as the cornerstone of effective border enforcement, noting that MCBA was still in its formative phase.
He said his immediate focus was to learn from ground operations, identify gaps and gradually build cohesion among officers drawn from six different agencies.
“Without strong integration, coordination would be difficult, but with a shared purpose, enforcement operations could be carried out more effectively.
“Engagement sessions with officers have already begun and are expected to continue over the next one to two months as we develop an operational framework here,” he said.
Ezanee, who is no stranger to dealing with smuggling and criminal activities, said he would leverage his experience during his stint as Selangor CID chief to build a new intelligence network here.
Meanwhile, KLIA MCBA commander Mohd Safrie Zakaria, who reported for duty on Dec 17 last year, said his priority was to ensure officers from different agencies operate under a single direction without disrupting existing procedures.
He said MCBA’s role was to strengthen coordination and mutual support, particularly in addressing integrity-related concerns, while ensuring that established processes continued to function effectively.
Drawing on his background in human resource management as a senior civil servant, Mohd Safrie said fostering a sense of belonging among officers was essential to driving a single mission at the country’s busiest international gateway.
Meanwhile, Kuantan Port MCBA commander Farah Azura Mohd Shargawi, who reported for duty on Jan 5, said her initial priority was to bring together officers from customs, immigration and other agencies who had previously operated from different locations.
“Within my first week in office, I began consolidating personnel to ensure all entry points remained secure while aligning operations with MCBA’s unified enforcement mandate,” she said.
Leveraging her background in the Customs Department, she said enforcement efforts would focus on cargo declarations, targeted inspections and the use of existing X-ray scanning facilities.
“Random, intelligence-driven and full inspections would be carried out when irregularities are detected,” she said, noting that the port handles slightly more than 100 containers a day.
Although stationed at different air and sea entry points, all three commanders highlighted the same priority: officers setting aside agency identities to function as a single team.
Their appointments mark a further step in MCBA’s transition towards a unified border management system, aimed at strengthening coordination, integrity and operational effectiveness at Malaysia’s entry points.
Recently, Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain outlined clear expectations for the three newly appointed commanders, emphasising practical, ground-level leadership to manage Malaysia’s most complex border entry points.
He said the appointment of Mohd Safrie reflected the need for diplomatic and administrative expertise, particularly in dealing with passengers, airlines and multiple stakeholders.
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